Translation and Psychometric Analysis of the Japanese Version of the Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy Scale.

Objective: To translate the Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy (PMP S-E) scale to Japanese and test its psychometric properties among Japanese mothers of low-birth-weight (LBW) infants.

Design: Descriptive psychometric study.

Setting: NICUs in two regional perinatal care centers in the Kinki region of Japan.

Participants: Seventy-nine Japanese mothers of LBW infants hospitalized in NICUs.

Methods: First, we translated the PMP S-E scale into Japanese and assessed its face and content validity. Second, we assessed the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and criterion-related and construct validity of the Japanese version of the PMP S-E (JPMP S-E) with data from Japanese mothers of LBW infants.

Results: The JPMP S-E mean score was 53.0 (SD = 7.1); the total scores ranged from 38 to 68. The intraclass correlation coefficient of test-retest reliability was .75, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was .90. With regard to criterion-related validity, we found a significant positive correlation between the JPMP S-E and the Maternal Attachment Inventory Japanese version (r = .45, p < .001), but no correlation existed between the JPMP S-E and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (r = .21, p = .06). We evaluated construct validity using confirmatory factor analysis to assess whether the model fit the previously determined structure of the PMP S-E. The model fit was moderate in the confirmatory factor analysis (comparative fit index = .63, goodness-of-fit index = .63, root mean square error of approximation = .15).

Conclusion: We found adequate estimates of reliability and moderate indicators of validity for the JPMP S-E, which support the use of the tool for clinical and research purposes.